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From Gold, To Shackles, Back To Gold by 40 DIESEL

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

1968

Editor’s note: 40 Diesel is my man like fifty grand so I will allow him to say anything he wants to on this site. He can even exhalt in the triumphs of athletes who are no where near as courageous as the two pictured above. Leave it to 40 however to redefine patriotism through the liberation of one’s paycheck. Read on DP Dot Commenters…

As if you didn’t know already, the Olympics are underway in all of its glory and all of its gall. The Olympics used to be a place of international competition and the overall goodwill of humanity through sport, but in the modern era its been come the global pulpit where grievances and pride are aired and displayed. Much ado has been made about China’s role in the situation in Darfur, and many of the “Official Corporate Sponsors” i.e. Coke and the like are catching grief under guilt by association. Honestly unless someone gets the balls to do something in line with TOMMIE SMITH and JOHN CARLOS in the ’68 Mexico City Games, then its just more liberal hustler propaganda (ala the Obama tee), because we need so save Baltimore as well as Darfur – IF NOT FIRST. Its gonna take a more profound act than bitching or some random rubber bracelet.

One of the common targets of corporate sponsorship/irresponsibility by the arm chair granola set is one of my beloved brands – The Nike Corporation of Beaverton, Oregon. Nike is always catching beef from the New Balance liberal hustler set for their labor practices and their sneaker prices. However there is no denying Nike’s influence on the global athletic community, and isn’t that what the Olympics is about anyway? Nike’s global positioning is no accident and the global icon and pitchman that is probably most responsible for this is His Airness MICHAEL JEFFREY JORDAN. MJ is no stranger to the Olympics, having won two gold medals, first in the ’84 LA Games, and the other with the team of universe beaters aka “The Dream Team” in the ’92 Barcelona games.

Lets be real for a second – DAVID STERN gave Jordan the job, but Nike made Jordan the global icon, to which Stern’s NBA is still reaping the benefits from. To this day Nike is still a corporate king maker of athletes, and their list of endorsers will shake the foundation of what ever sport they outfit for these dudes for. Having lost out on the NBA/NFL outfitting contracts a few years back, Nike had been itching to get their Swoosh on American professional athlete’s uniforms. Well they got their wish as Olympic outfitters most important USA Basketball which was renamed “The Redeem Team” for the ’08 Beijing Games.

So of course in true Nike fashion they’ve gone all in for this. They’ve debuted the HYPERDUNK, Nikes newest sneaker technology since they debuted the SHOX in the 2000 Sydney Games (“Hey Fred Weis, tell me how my sack tastes” – Vince Carter). Also, whats Nike with out some jaw-dropping. awe-inspiring, game-changing commercial that makes you understand why they’re running this shit literally and figuratively? I give you 40’s “Exhibit A”:

Come on man. Thats that shit right there. I’m sending that advertising a firm a Kwanzaa card this December. Plus what I love about this year’s men’s hoops squad is the bigger picture they represent. Don’t let the media MICHAEL PHELPS you to death, his quest for individual success is great and all, and as America’s premiere white Olympic athlete he’s gonna get alot of deserved coverage. However the global community is getting tired of America’s individualistic posturing, and with the proverb of “It takes a village to raise a child”, its gonna take a team to raise this nation. That team is the US Men’s Basketball team.

At the opening game against the Chinese National Squad, KOBE BRYANT was mobbed while G-G-G-G DUBYA was merely golf clapped out of diplomatic politeness. LEBRON, ‘MELO, WADE and the rest of the team are rock stars in the Olympic Village, all while maintaining a level of humility focused on the goal of THE GOLD. Most of (white) America would love to paint these guys as cocky, brash spoiled NBA brats, which just isn’t the case. The guys who were on the team who are carrying the shame of the ’04, third place finish are motivated (LeBRONZE JAMES), and all these men have said that this experience is bigger and more important than any NBA title they’ve ever competed for or won. They have elevated themselves over the simplistic critiques of being a team of primadonnas to a cohesive unit with a singular goal. Who says that brothers can’t get along?

I don’t know how the rest of the world sees this team, but it does my heart proud to see the descendants of chattel slaves, evolve in to a solid BILLION DOLLARS of black wealth out there defending the pride of this country. These are the disciples of Jordan. They understand the game and the blueprint he’s laid out for them to follow and improve upon. Represent for your responsibilities, and handle your business. America may chide these young men for not having a college degree between them, but they damn sure know history and economics. They understand that they have a job to do as ambassadors, but also know they are global icons and thats gonna cost anyone who wants a piece of that. If you want us to represent this country which has been egregiously thankless to us, then we’re gonna redefine our American and get our slice if the pie even if gotta bake it ourselves. Thats why Kobe & Co got Stern a little nervous when they all more than admitted they’d be foolish not to take a $50M European deal…

And I completely understand that mentality. Whether its Crispus Attucks in Boston, or Joe Louis vs. Max Schmelling, America will rally behind its Negroes when their causes are the same, just for them to return to “their spot” in line when the aim is achieved. Think I’m lying, read any NBA beat writer come January. All that good will they had for these guys after they get the gold will all be vanquished, and they’ll be back to “million dollar thug crybabies”. If I’ve seen it once, I’ve seen it a million times. So get that gold medal fellas, and get all the gold that goes along with it. And if that leads you to foreign shores, NBA hoopsters than do what you got to. But for now rock the Stars & Stripes with pride and what ever swagger you have to – this is your country fellas. I for one am proud.

BTW – thanks to NaS for the title of this drop. “You Can’t Stop Us Now” has become that anthem… “From pyramids, to cotton fields, to Wrigley Field.”

NaS featuring EBAN THOMAS – ‘You Can’t Stop us Now’

P.S.: Dallas the challenge is for you to get that ‘LO lifestyle Olympic Ceremony blazer. Considering I scooped the ROOTS USA Jacket form the ’04 Athens Games, its gotta be out there to be had!!!!

Posted in 40 Deez, C.R.E.A.M., Ghetto Celebs, Ninjas, No Boutros Boutros... Ghali, Sneaker Fiends United, Social Upheaval, Sports are Gay, The Guest Room | 13 Comments »

Tempered Expectations for Barack Obama by 40 DAWG

Thursday, August 7th, 2008

barack

Editor’s note: Just like Bo Jackson, 40 DAWG knows that a hero ain’t nuthin’ but a sandwich.

As the election and football season draws nigh I am reminded of a previous black “first” that I was involved with that serves as a reminder to temper my expectations for presumed Democratic Candidate and political rock star Barack Obama.

It was my freshman year in college and as my beloved Temple Owls were closing in on another forgetful season, the winds of change were a blowing and it was pretty much cut in stone that the current head coach was on his way out. There were several choices out there but the name that kept coming up was this young up and coming defensive coordinator from Clemson University, who was responsible for one of the top defenses in collegiate football.

This (relatively) young coach had a pedigree of major college programs, won a national title as an assistant coach at Penn State and was even a member of the undefeated ’72 Dolphins. His coaching tome of defensive back drills was critically lauded as a handbook. Groomed and lauded by his peers, and stamped with approval by our illustrious alum and fellow Fighting Owl Dr. William H. (The Cos) Cosby. By our last game of the season the head coach was a lame duck and it was becoming a veritable free for all, the successor had been named, and in agit-prop mentality of the early 1990s, much to the chagrin of the current outgoing staff, I even wore a Clemson fitted to our last home came in salute to this new brother coming aboard.

Temple University was making history, for all the years brothers have been on the gridiron never had one cracked the head coaching fraternity on the highest Division 1 Level. Enter RON DICKERSON, suave debonair cat, with Billy Dee Williams looks and charm and did it with out ever taking a sip of Colt 45. Though he lacked any head coaching experience, he was named the first black/African-American/Negroe/whatever term you prefer, NCAA Division 1 Football head coach in history, and word to EDDIE ROBINSON we were proud. Here we were a program looking for a beacon of hope and in the throes of North Philly craziness we had a brother than was gonna take us to the next level.

ron dickerson

It was an interesting time because in my young college football career the idea of a regime change let alone getting an HNIC was mind blowing and I believed in my heart of hearts that I was gonna do my part to help this brother succeed. I was also interesting because I knew that for some of my teammates this was one of the few black male role models that many had and what a shining example he was gonna be. He was all spit and polished, said he was gonna buy a house next to campus and open his home to his players and be that surrogate home for his new extended family. Point blank we were all entranced. However if I ever had an example of “all that glitters ain’t gold” this was the true and living proof of that adage.

I will spare the reader minutia of his shortcomings, for the lines of fact, perception, and opinion tend to blur in a way that would come off more as “hood lore” rather than hard journalism. However, I do find comfort in stating that the mass majority of my former teammates can all offer their varying degrees of responses about him ranging from forgetful nonchalance to vigorous contempt.

So what created this bevy of naysayers and malaise to a veritable racial pioneer of his field? Some of the circumstances;

As black players we felt that after toiling under white head coaches that some how our position in life would improved because we had “one of our own” running the show. A damaging fallacy that in a lot of ways worked out as well as thinking that West African chief was inviting you over to shake your hand with those tall ships looming out at sea.

Thinking that there was some common experience that he would be sympathetic and guiding as an authority figure to impressionable young men, who were still learning the ropes of life themselves and trying to pass Math 101 at the same time. He failed immensely on “being there” for his players who probably believed in him (and wanted to) more than he believed in himself. (More or less it generally came off like Dave Chappelle on Oprah. Where as Oprah could have guided Dave as elder and success blueprint she chose to talk at him rather than to him.)

I use these two examples to show that although they were character flaws of the man himself, in several ways they were self-inflicted disappointments because our propensity to suspend critical thinking and assessment of those who look like us that have never been in such positions of authority. Which brings me to Barack Obama.

In no way am I any less proud of what Obama has achieved at this point in the game. In fact I remember the pride I had when I realized I was going to be part of history playing for the first black football head coach in NCAA D1 history, and the feelings were quite similar. However I implore you to not invest everything in the mere melanin tonality of the figurehead. Sometimes we get so caught up in the aspect of “change” that we lose the objectivity to wholly critique the situation at hand, especially when its one of our own.

So in essence I’m imparting a brief overview of a similar experience to not lose sight of where you are in America, and make sure that at least one of your current wrongs are righted during his presidency. If not have the fortitude and wherewithal to make sure you make a way to survive regardless. For if we all sit there thinking “we made it” upon his election you’ll be in for a rude awakening once the hangover wears off. So ease back on the witty tees and celebrity endorsements because ultimately he’s got a job to do that goes a lot farther than “First Black President”…

I close this lengthy rant with a conversation I had when this coach was going to take the job. One of our academic advisers who was also proud of the coach-elect asked me:


“How does it feel to have a black coach?”
“Its cool, but its not everything, I just wanna win.”
“Really, I thought it would mean everything.”
“Hell I’ll play for the head of the Klan if he can get me a national championship.”

The point is this, we can not get caught up in the person, and absolve them from their job which is to get results. Dickerson wound up going 8-47 (.145) and is currently out of coaching. Barack Obama? Well we’ll just have to wait and see….

(BTW – If somehow you Googled yourself and find this write up Ron, I wanna thank you and your elastic spine for teaching me very valuable life lessons at such a young age. I still await the day to sit down to talk to you man-to-man, we’re going on 11 years and counting… #68)

Posted in 40 Deez, Ninjas, Politricks, Social Upheaval, Straight Laced, The Guest Room, Wig Owners | 10 Comments »

BROOKLYN BULLSHIT…

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

Editor’s note: I just copied and pasted this drop from JOELL ORTIZ’ website. He goes a little deeper than I have to discuss his discontent with the folks at Brooklyn Bodega over the annual Bklyn Hip-Hop Festival that they produce. This isn’t the definitive story for this misunderstanding, but it does shed some light on the passion and understanding that JOELL lives his life by. I hope the dialogue becomes increased by this drop of real talk…

2008 marks the 4th year anniversary of the so called “Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival” It also marks the fourth year I’ve been snubbed by the folks at ‘Brooklyn Bodega’. I was scheduled to do a show for the Puerto Rican day Parade in Bridgeport CT that weekend (shout to Block Royal) so I could not have done a full set at the BHHF. However, I did want an opportunity to promote the 2@atime project I am a part of. Our aim is to provide computers to underprivileged kids in my neighborhood and I thought the festival would be a great place to kick things off. Many people tried to convince the event organizer, Wes Jackson, to give me the opportunity to do two songs and to say few words about the computer program, but Wes refused every request.

From the door, I want to say that I respect his right to refuse my participation. No problem. However, the reason he gave to people for brushing me off was bullshit. It seems the content of my music is not conducive to the kind of event Wes promotes. Once again, I don’t want anyone thinking what about to say is sour grapes cause I got snubbed by an event promoter. That shit happens, no big deal. But the real reason Wes didn’t want me there is because I called him out on his bullshit the first year he had the event in the Williamsburg Brooklyn, steps away from where I was raised.

Long story short, I got pissed cause there weren’t any non white locals represented, on stage or in the audience. NO one that grew up in my projects, on the Southside or on Greenpoint knew about the event. It was clear from the beginning that we uncool Black and Latin people in the neighborhood were not welcome. On top of that, they claim the name, “Brooklyn Bodega” but there were no flyers or poster boards in or around any bodegas in the hood. I found out about the event cause a friend that loads trucks for one of the sponsors told one of my managers about it. As the date got closer I found out another friend of a friend from Boriquen Projects was hired to clean up after the event.

It’s ironic they didn’t want us there because a few of the older people that live in that neighborhood actually built the space where the festival was held and they’re grandkids helped clean up the thrash after people left festival. Some those older dudes from around the South Side believe that this deliberate slight happened cause I’m Latino. I can kind of see why they think that but I don’t believe the decision to snub me was based on race. I don’t think Wes Jackson is a racist.

However, the snub does speak to something just as hurtful to me – Cultural Snobbery and Classism.

I know first hand about classism because I live in Cooper Projects which is in the heart of Williamsburg Brooklyn. For those of you who don’t know, Williamsburg is located in North Brooklyn and is Mecca to the hipster. Tight Jeans, Dope Sneaker Stores, Hip Restaurants, Cool Lounges and a lot of young artist types from parts unknown with lots of money renting apartments that are way too expensive. It’s a great place to hang out on any night of the week cause there is always something poppin on the North Side. Except if your one of the poor people in that lives in this area.

Before I became Joell Ortiz, “the rapper” I was just another Puerto Rican from the wrong side of the North side. I got the automatic locked doors at the local hipster sneaker store as I tried to enter, the 1hr wait for a table at an empty restaurant and I never got any of the jobs at local shops or construction sites I applied for. It was as if I was invisible while in certain sections of this neighborhood. Things have changed for me since those days. I am still a Rican from the North side but today the same sneaker store owner that shitted on me a few years back goes out of his way to show me new kicks when I pass by and he always asks me to take pictures in the store. He recently made a nice donation to 2@atime so all is good.

Although, certain things may have changed for me around here, on the whole, gentrification is a motherfucker for my people in this neighborhood. For instance, the local supermarket that we used to shop at closed and in it’s place they opened a more expensive one that frowns on welfare mom’s with EBT cards. They still don’t take applications at any of the construction sites and when they do hire someone from the projects or one of the Puerto Rican’s for the South side it’s only as day workers with no insurance or job security. When a worker does get paid its usually in cash from out the foreman’s pocket. Hardly enough to keep a roof over your head around here.

If you happen to be one of the working poor in this area that doesn’t live in the projects it’s almost impossible to keep an apartment. Landlords are throwing people out that have been in this area for generations in order to make room for wealthy newcomers. If they can’t get you out legally certain slumlords will opt to burn you out of your home. I’m not bullshiting. There have been more suspect fires in this area than any other time in the history of NYC. That is no coincidence.

There have been a few hippie rallies on our behalf and leftist flyers proclaiming workers rights have been handed out at local bars and taverns, but for the most part, I don’t believe it. When it comes to real estate and bread they ain’t trying to let us eat. While landlords evict seniors that can’t afford the outrageous rents some of these same rallying hipsters are busy trying to open their own school in the same building as our P.S. 84. The hope is that their kids will receive a better education than the one provided by the local public school that happens to be in the same building. I know it sounds nuts but I swear it’s true. Separate but equal, in the same building?! I’m not the smartest guy in the world but I thought that shit was illegal in this country.

Anyway, I think Brooklyn Bodega represents the same kind of hypocrisy. They claim to rep “real Hip Hop” but only allow a certain kind of performer to play for a certain audience. To me, That’s bullshit. Hip Hop was started by Blacks and Latinos that weren’t welcome to party in downtown clubs owned and run by racist snobs. Those pioneers created a scene of their own and passed it down to us. Its only been 30 something years and our culture already has bougie snobs trying to keep poor people out of something that was created by the poor. I’ll bet a stack that if we crunch the numbers and make adjustments for time the founding fathers of Hip Hop would not be part of the Brooklyn Bodega’s target demographic.

I probably wont ever be invited to perform at that festival but fuck it. I don’t want anything to do with a classist organization that goes out there way to exclude an entire segment of this culture. When I perform in my neighborhood I want ALL of my neighbors to enjoy the show.

As you can tell I have few issues with gentrification. However, there are some bright spots that would be unfair for me to ignore. I wanna take a a sec to acknowledge the good people at Monkey Town on North 3rd. They gave my boy from Cooper Projects a job recently. He walked in off the street and asked if they were hiring and they gave him a job on the spot. That’s very rare around here. I actually went in there on a date one night and the chef came out to tell me and the chick I was with all about the dishes we were having. He didn’t know who I was he was just being a gracious host to a guest. I love that spot!

You can help me help the underprivileged kids in the neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Bushwick, Brooklyn by clicking on Give at the top bar on my homepage. Our goal with 2@atime is to get every disadvantaged kid in the four projects in the Williamsburg/Bushwick area computers. I want them to know about everything that is going on in, around and outside of this neighborhood.

We gonna change our community 2 kids at a time.

Posted in Black Bullshit, C.R.E.A.M., Crappers, Ghetto Celebs, Social Upheaval, The Guest Room | 6 Comments »

TERRENCE Rocked The Bells…

Monday, August 4th, 2008

Editor’s note: Terrence Elenteny is an up and coming filmmaker and a large part of the success of the iNTERNETS CELEBRITIES and DP dot com film projects. During my desperation to get into the ‘Rock The Bells’ concert I put out an all points bulletin to everyone I thought would be in attendance. Terrence didn’t have an extra ticket for me, but he blesses us with the best recap of the show I have read so far…

Yo D!
Whatsup man,
Sorry I didn’t get back to you this weekend – I was involved in the tail-end of a week long bender on Long Island culminating in one of the greatest fucking shows I have been to in quite some time. I did not have an extra ticket unfortunately – If I did, you would have gotten the call, believe me. Man, if we could’ve gotten access to work at that Rock the Bells shit – we would have KILLED it. But I was damn happy to relax and be a fan.

Have you been to shows at Jones Beach? Totally different experience than a Randalls Island or typical festival. Call me an old man but I was damn happy to sit in the upper deck of the amphitheatre in my seat all day, smoking blunt after blunt with a picturesque view of the water, boats, and stage, not having to walk around at all. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful show. I’m sure you’ve heard all about it from other people already but the performances were off the hook in my opinion. I wish De La had a longer, and later set. Seems crazy to me that they aren’t headlining their own shows like this but I guess that goes to show you what a Long Island loving De La Soul stan I am.

Pharcyde was sick. Never got too deep into them but their performance and energy will def make me go back and check out their classic joints. Rae and Ghost did their thing, you know Wu always shows up with about 60 people on stage to show a presence and have their backs. Ghost might be my favorite rapper still putting out consistent albums in my opinion so I almost wish they would let him go in on more of his new stuff, but hearing all the Cuban Link and classic Wu joints is always special.

As the sun starts setting at Jones Beach, you start to feel that something special is happening and just as the light started changing we get a Mos Def set. Mos Def might be the most entertaining person I have ever seen in my life. Not sure what it is about that dude that just gets me wrapped up – but I will always buy, watch, love anything he creates or appears in. And as far as entertainment value–the man puts on an original, never stale/rehearsed show and feels spontaneous and reactive to the crowd’s energy. He has the DJ playing sick Jamaican/island tunes and his set weaves from solo classics to Black Jack fire to him singing at the top of his lungs. That dude is gifted like no other . And then out comes Talib to kill some Black Star shit — my high was in full effect at this point and I was bumping that album to the death when I was in high school so I was transplanted instantly in space and time. They fucking killed it. To the last minute—the production crew came out and told Mos to start wrapping it up and he owned that dude – “Nah man– Im bigger than that” and he finished up his set. I love Mos – definitely.

So now its nighttime – Red and Meth – who I had seen before years ago on their How High tour – and and Ive seen Wu a few times as well. Knew this shit was going to be high energy. The perfect act to have up now that the light is gone and a full stage production with lights and stage monitors can be truly effective. These dudes really do put on a show their energy can’t be contained. Not to mention they are some funny motherfuckers who can make my side split simply by doing that walk frrom Da Rockwilder video. These cats own an audience. Not sure if Method Man killed a bunch of dudes and swallowed their souls or something – but every time I see him perform I’m floored by his boundless energy. Honestly, I think if this dude was a nobody and you put him up on stage in front of a crowd without a microphone — just let him run around, dance and yell at the crowd — after 5 minutes he’d have everyone singing M-E-T-H-O-D mannn. He demands crowd participation like no other. And you gotta respect these dudes for just being the same motherfuckers as always — this is Jones Beach we are talking about on Long Island–there’s underage teenage girls with their moms waiting to pick them up in the parking lots after the show at every turn. And to hear Redman encouraging the ladies in the crowd to make noise if they’ve got that “good pussy” – there’ s just something great about that and I don’t even know why. So all this in itself makes for a great set. Add to that these motherfuckers brought out DJ KOOL (Let me clear my throat, and big up Wale, then leave), Slick Rick (I think he came out with them, but maybe with Rae and Ghost– I was higghhh) and EPMD!!! Let me tell you something man– I have been caught sleeping because I have not made progress on this Long Island Hip Hop documentary that I have had in my head for years, seeing EPMD and De La rip shit up at a classic show in Long Island mind you, I have been woken up and I need to get going on that shit, we should talk about it.

Anyway, EPMD is on stage – I have officially lost my mind. How sick is Eric Sermon’s voice – is it a lisp, some sort of speech impediment? — I dont fuckin know but it just sounds like he’s the one dude who should have probably not tried his hand and public speaking – and ends up being a rap star like no other. I just remembered — someone brought out Biz Markie at one point – Long Island representative yet again. And De La brought Dres out from Black Sheep who is always a fan favorite. So we’ll say thats it for the Red and Meth set -although Im probably forgetting something crazy. Long break in between sets for the crew to set up and assemble the full band that will accompany Nas. Assholes in the crowd were growing impatient and booing the long break but I was cooling out and getting to know my high.

Nas came out hard – the live back worked with him well- often the DJ would throw on a classic joint on wax- the band would start playing along, reinterpreting the samples from the original track as the record faded out and now Nas is rocking his verse with the newly created backing track. It was pretty dope. He performed at least half of Illmatic– not sure if he gets tired or forgetful but it isn’t uncommon for him to miss chunks of his verses at a time. It didn’t even bother me though. Nas is a passionate dude and that shit comes through no matter what. Not sure how you feel about Nas lately- but I’m feeling his maturity and attempts to be more socially relevant.

He came hard telling the crowd that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were out – as are the rest of the old leaders. He sounds like a man who wants to run for office – or at least be a representative of the people. He aligns himself with the young generation and asks the people to believe in him because they are one in the same. Nas is a genuine, real artist in my book and I was happy to see him put all of himself into a performance. I won’t say that I knew Jay-Z was coming but I knew that motherfucker was coming. I heard just the smell of that Breathe beat and was out of my seat yelling “Here come Hov motherfuckers” It took a minute for the rest of the crowd to join me but next thing you know, there he is. Jay-Z has created really a new level of rap icon. Seeing him step on stage unannounced, whether you love the dude or not, is the equivalent of Elvis stepping on the stage, or whoever it is that rock n’ roll people shit their pants about these days. This reminds me of another larger point that I have been missing as well–it’s no surprise obviously – but it’s just good to see all these guys give these amazing performances and rep so strong for NYC. It’s Hov’s civic duty as reigning hip-hop impresario to show up at this classic show and do his bit. Him and Nas killed that Black Republican joint and Hov officially left the bulding.

Nas wrapped up his set with One Mic– performing most of the song on bended knee–the two huge stage monitors in tight on his face as he performs his poetry with a look in his eye that makes me think that this dude was actually pretty good in Belly. Last set: Q-Tip gets top billing over tribe– or at least gets a quick solo set before they all come out together. I’m not mad at that I guess– think he has a solo project coming out and I’m just happy to see Tip. He came out with DJ Scratch who got some a minute or two to show off some serious DJ skills–something rap shows could use wayyy more of in my opinion. Tip did some solo stuff, including his new single,- the song that uses the same sample as a track off Madlib’s Music for Movies album–I wonder if he produced the track or if Tip just heard the sample or whatever. Either way, I like the song– but I really wished he hadn’t performed Vivrant Thing – I always hated that shit. Mos Def was out there chilling for the whole Q-Tip solo set and I was just waiting for them to start announcing the Neo-Native Tongues movement, album, tour, and world dominance.

It didn’t happen exactly like that but when the lights went down and a familiar voice rang out declaring, “A Tribe Called Quest consists of four members….” over an eerie soundscape, I realized what I had somehow forgotten for the day. I was about to see A Tribe Called Quest perform together live in New York for the first time in 10 years. Was I excited to see Q-Tip? Absolutely –always loved that dude. But it paled in comparison to the excitement that had been building inside me to see Phife. I was nervous about how the Tribe performance would be. I know Phife has serious health issues and hoped he would be in classic form. He was. Love his voice, love his delivery, attitude, underdog confidence—he was rocking a Jamal Crawford jersey and white towel strapped by a headband the whole show–had you asked me what I thought he might be wearing before the show, I would have told you exactly that. Seriously, I knew it before even he put it on yesterday morning. They did a bunch of classics–also accompanied with live instrumentation — breaking into bass solos and performances of the original songs that they had sampled – they sang, Mos and Tip do some dancing that the kids will enjoy. They just put on a SHOW. The shit is continuous, it is a performance, it is entertaining. It’s not someone pressing the play button while the rappers talk over their instrumentals. It’s inspired, it’s planned, it’s original – it’s MUSIC. Consequence was out on stage. And then of course–Busta. We were there at the VH1 tribute to Tribe when Busta came out and killed Scenario. That shit was amazing and I think everyone left happy and saying, well the only thing that could have made it better was if he was performing it with Tribe. That’s what we got last night and it was of course unbelievable.

Where’s Dinco D?

Where’s Charlie Brown?

Questions left unanswered I suppose, but the shit was off the hook regardless. I was definitely worn out by the end of the show – it was without question one of the best hip-hop shows I’ve ever attended. Strong Island won.

Sorry I couldn’t get that ticket for you.

Next year let’s work that motherfucker.

Posted in Crappers, iNternets Celebrities, T.O.N.Y., The Guest Room, When I Reminisce... | 8 Comments »

HO SIT DOWN!

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

brett favre

Editor’s note: 40 Diesel gets the DP Dot Com family hyped up for the 2009 season of “Not For Long”.

I hate this time of year in regards to sports, there’s nothing popping at all. I root for the Amazin’s, and I’m glad to see them get to first place (much to the demise of Brownsville’s WILLIE RAN), but I’m not gonna front beisbol is like a distant fifth in sports interest to your dude. My other love – GOLF is on a serious back burner, since EL TIGRE is laid up on IR and its not as much fun with him out there rattling people’s cages. So until the Olympics kick in providing a respite from the doldrums of sport, I have to keep my eyes on the start of NFL camps and prepping for the greatest sport of them all. News of NFL training camp has always been a bittersweet moment. It signals the start of my favorite sport, but is also signals the death knell for summer. These NFL camps got off to an interesting start with the impending “un-retirement” of Mississippi’s own BRETT FARVE. Seems like ole #4 can’t just seem to hang them up, and like most vanity driven athletes/celebrities realized that “they just can’t leave it alone, the game needs me!!!”

The problem is this Brett, other than your ego – YOU HAVE NO REASON TO RETURN!

Much like MICHAEL JORDAN pushing off BRYON RUSSELL to hit the chip-clinching shot, you couldn’t pick a better season to retire off of. Going an unexpected 13-3, The Pack threatened the NFC for a Super Bowl birth and over the course of this season Farve broke DAN MARINO’S records for Passing Yardage and Touchdowns. With the new found running game led by RYAN GRANT, and the ever patient AARON RODGERS waiting in the wings, it looked lovely in Lambeau. FARVE retired on great terms, and set up his beloved franchise of a decade and a half in great shape for the future. All was well in the NFL’s smallest market, in fact the NFL loved FARVE so much the set up his jersey retirement ceremony on one of the biggest nights of the season – the 2008 regular season debut of Monday Night Football, at Lambeau against long time division rivals the Minnesota Vikings. Pretty much perfect…. NO?

NOPE. Brett got antsy and is getting his best “Mama Said Knock You Out” on and is calling it a comeback, for the third offseason/preseason in a row, and because of this I’d like to nominate him for a DPdotcom “HO SIT DOWN!”

Why? Brett you’re old. Know when to leave the party. Think about NAMATH as a Ram, MONTANA as a KC Chief, EMMITT as a Cardinal, MJ as a Wizard, post-Black Album JAY-Z… Outside of jersey sales there is nothing memorable about people sticking around longer than they need to. Do you not know you’re tempting fate by coming back and sullying what was a great career? Brett we’ve ignored your addiction to pain killers, the fact you have the career record for INTERCEPTIONS, and other less memorable facets of your career, but this one is quite inexcusable, and dare I say disrespectful to the NFL. I’ve always admired that the NFL made sure that no individual player was ever greater than the league itself, but Commissioner ROGER GODDELL is effin’ up on this one. Its over my man, you had a great run, but now you’re coming off like a bitter ICE-T, hating on SOULJA BOY.

So in closing, Brett…

HO SIT DOWN!!! (Please)

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